Dayanand Bandodkar
Dayanand Balkrishna Bandodkar (12 March 1911 – 12 August 1973), popularly known as Bhausaheb Bandodkar was the first Chief Minister of Goa, in the territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. Born in Pernem to a Marathi family who had immigrated from Tuljapur, he became a wealthy mine owner following the Annexation of Goa. He sought to merge the territory with the state of Maharashtra. He swept the polls in 1963, 1967 and in 1972 while representing the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and remained in power until his death in 1973.
Dayanand Bandodkar | |
|---|---|
| 1st Chief Minister of Goa, Daman and Diu | |
| In office 20 December 1963 – 2 December 1966 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | President's rule |
| In office 5 April 1967 – 23 March 1972 | |
| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| In office 23 March 1972 – 12 August 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Shashikala Kakodkar |
| Member of Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 31 December 1964 – 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Vasant Velingkar |
| Succeeded by | Krishna Bandodkar |
| Constituency | Marcaim |
| In office 1972 – 12 August 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony D'Souza |
| Succeeded by | Ramakant Khalap |
| Constituency | Mandrem |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dayanand Balkrishna Bandodkar 12 March 1911 Pernem, Goa, Portuguese India, Portuguese Empire (now in India) |
| Died | 12 August 1973 (aged 62) Panaji, Goa, India |
| Political party | Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (1963–1973) |
| Children | 5, including Shashikala Kakodkar |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Nickname | Bhausaheb Bandodkar |
Bandodkar was a member of the Gomantak Maratha Samaj in Goa). His proposal to merge Goa with Maharashtra was met with stiff opposition from the native Goans. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India then offered him two options:
- To retain Goa's current status as a Union Territory
- To merge Goa into the neighboring state of Maharashtra and the other erstwhile Portuguese enclaves of Daman and Diu into the neighbouring state of Gujarat
A law to conduct a referendum to decide the issue of merger or otherwise of Goa, Daman and Diu with Maharashtra/Gujarat was passed by both the houses of the Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha (on 1 December 1966), and the Rajya Sabha (on 7 December 1966 and the same received the assent of the President of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on 16 December 1966. An opinion poll was subsequently held on 16 January 1967 to decide the fate of the union territory which voted to retain its separate status by 34,021 votes.